Johnnie Jones

Mr. Johnnie Paul Jones, Sr. March 23, 1919 - February 27, 2013 - SAVANNAH - Mr. Johnnie Paul Jones, Sr. peacefully entered into eternal rest on Wednesday, February 27, 2013. He was the son of the late William Martin Jones and Estella Maude Tigglers. He is preceded in death by his parents and four siblings. Mr. Jones was a native of Atlanta, Georgia, and resided in Savannah, Georgia for 62 years. He graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in Atlanta, attended Morehouse College in Atlanta, and the Atlanta Police Academy. He was a cum laude graduate of Savannah State College, now Savannah State University. He did additional studies at Armstrong Atlantic State University, Savannah, Georgia, and at the Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia. He served in the United States Army in WWII in the Pacific and earned three battle stars. Mr. Jones was an ardent member of Mount Zion Baptist Church where he chaired numerous ministries and spearheaded many projects. In 1948, Mr. Jones was one of the first eight African American police officers hired in the city of Atlanta, Georgia. In 2004, Mayor Shirley Franklin paid special tribute to Officer Johnnie P. Jones and called him A living legend, the last of the magnificent eight, whose bravery established a legacy for all to learn and benefit from. Mr. Jones served as project manager of the Housing Authority of Savannah (HAS), and retired as Rent Schedule Supervisor. He was first African American to chair the Chatham County-Savannah Metropolitan Planning Commission. He served on this board for twenty years and was noted for his diligence, fairness and firmness. He fought the proliferation of bad signage and helped shape the growth of the community in affordable housing, water and mass transportation. In , he served on the Zoning Board of Appeals. Mr. Jones was a founding member of the Liberty City-Richfield-Southover Community Association and served as secretary for thirty four years. He was actively involved in the Association's role in the building of the community center, and worked diligently with its programs. He is survived by his wife, Parnell M. Jones, his son, Johnnie Paul Jones, Jr., daughters, Elmira Williams and Estella Miller, Atlanta, Georgia, nine grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Funeral Services will be held 11:00 a.m., on Tuesday, March 5, 2013 from First African Baptist Church, 23 Montgomery Street. Visitation: 6:00-7:00 p.m., Monday, March 4, 2013 at Mount Zion Baptist Church, 1008 MLK, Jr. Blvd. Mr. Jones will lie in serenity at 9:00 a.m., until the hour of service. Interment: Lincoln Memorial Cemetery. Remembrances: The Parnell M. Jones Scholarship Fund, Savannah State University, Post Office Box 20439, Savannah, Georgia 31404. Savannah Morning News March 3, 2013 Please sign our Obituary Guest Book at savannahnow.com/obituaries.